Please enjoy the results of our October Show!
Congrats to all participants and to our award winners!
We also had the pleasure of conversing with Elise Howard, author of “Plant This, Not That.” Elise’s book is an informative representation about how beautiful, beneficial native plantings can be swapped for some of the most common landscaping plants ion our gardens.
STAGING
AMY MCCOOEY, BETSY MARX
PASSERS
FLORAL: MAYA SPEELMANS, JUDIE OPPENHEIM
HORTICULTURE: CATHY SMITH, MISSY FALKENBERG
CLERKS
FLORAL: LIZ CLARK (GCA). AMY MCCOOEY
HORTICULTURE: SARAH FLEMING, ALEX SMITH
PHOTOGRAPHY: TERESA MAGUIRE
JUDGES
(GCA) FLORAL: LISA GADSDEN, STEPHANIE WEDEKING, WOODNEY WACHTER
(GCA) HORTICULTURE: ALICE WADE, DEBORAH AGNEW, CAROL MILLS
(RGC) PHOTOGRAPHY: SHEILA EHRENBERG, BONNIE TORCIVIA
FLORAL DESIGN
(GCA Judges)
“I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers” – Claude Monet
Art in Bloom – An Interpretive Design
ELIZABETH DIMOCK KNAPP TROPHY
Class 1: Create a design that interprets one of two paintings curated by Kathy Keating from the Beauregard Gallery collection. Entry is to be staged on a 30” high rectangular table covered with a white floor length tablecloth. Design should not exceed 16” width or depth. Exhibitors are given a 20” x 20” design space. Viewed and judged from all sides. A statement of intent is required. Limited to (6) Entries
Results: 1st: Avery Brighton *Best in Show | 2nd: Taphy Harcsar | 3rd: Louisa Renn | HM: Amy McCooey
Class 2: Novice. Same as above. Entry is to be staged on a 30” high rectangular table covered with a white floor length tablecloth. Design should not exceed 16” width or depth. Exhibitors are given a 20” x 20” design space. Viewed and judged from all sides. A statement of intent is required. Limited to (6) Entries
Results: 1st: Kathy Keating | 2nd: Kathleen Onieal | 3rd: Besty Marx
HORTICULTURE
(GCA Judges)
All entries must be properly identified with species and cultivar information.
RITCHIE-MOORE TROPHY
Class 1: Open to all members. Any plant propagated since June 2026. Clay or plastic pots are permitted. Pots not to exceed 4” in diameter. Maximum three pots per member. Points from October 2026 and May 2027 exhibits will be combined to award the Ritchie-Moore Trophy in June 2027. Propagation cards are required and a key card is required if three plants are entered. A key card with visual diagram and plant list is required. Key card must be a 4” x 6” white unlined card completed in black waterproof medium. A 4” x 6” photograph with identifying numbers may be used.
Results: 1st: Alex Smith *Best in Show | 2nd: Maya Speelmans, Heather Robinson | 3rd: Elaine Eadon, Betsy Ford | HM: Laura Haaren
FALL EXTRAVAGANZA
Class 2: One stem of ornamental grass with inflorescence. Non-native cultivars are permitted. Height may not exceed 24” from the lip of the container to the tip of the stem. Displayed in one RGC container. Class may be divided.
Results: 1st: Bonnie Torcivia | 2nd: Heather Robinson | 3rd: Elaine Eadon, Betsy Ford | HM: Heather Robinson
Class 3: Novice. Same as above.
Results: No Entries
Class 4: An arrangement of one stem of three to five different kinds (genera) of seed heads, pods, capsules or hips displayed in one RGC container. A key card with visual diagram and plant list is required. Key card must be a 4” x 6” white unlined card completed in black waterproof medium. A 4” x 6” photograph with identifying numbers may be used.
Results: 1st: Heather Robinson | 2nd: Bonnie Torcivia, Betsy Ford, Heather Robinson | 3rd: Elaine Eadon | HM: Missy Falkenberg, Maya Speelmans, Betsy Ford, Mary Heins
Class 5: Novice. Same as above.
Results: No Entries
HERBS
Class 6: An arranged bouquet of 3 to 5 different kinds (genera) of home-grown herbs to be displayed in member’s clear glass unetched container. A key card with visual diagram and plant list is required. Key card must be a 4” x 6” white unlined card completed in black waterproof medium. A 4” x 6” photograph with identifying numbers may be used.
Results: 1st: Heather Robinson | 2nd: Bonnie Torcivia, Laura Haaren | 3rd: Elaine Eadon, Teresa Maguire, Avery Brighton, Missy Falkenberg | HM: Maya Speelmans
Class 7: Novice. Same as above.
Results: No Entries
LATE BLOOMING FLOWERS
One flowering stem to be displayed in one RGC container. Not to exceed 24″ in length from the lip of the container to the tip of the stem (lip-to-tip rule).
Class 8: Chrysanthemum
Results: 1st: Laura Haaren | 3rd: Elaine Eadon
Class 9: Novice. Same as above.
Results: No Entries
Class 10: Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan)
Results: 1st: Bonnie Torcivia | 2nd: Heather Robinson | 3rd: Missy Falkenberg
Class 11: Novice. Same as above.
Results: No Entries
Class 12: Sedum
Results: 1st: Laura Haaren | 2nd: Missy Falkenberg | 3rd: Elaine Eadon, Heather Robinson
Class 13: Novice. Same as above.
Results: No Entries
Class 14: Any native flowering stem **
Results: 1st: Susan Sorokolit | 2nd: Missy Falkenberg, Elaine Eadon | 3rd: Avery Brighton, Bonnie Torcivia | HM: Heather Robinson
Class 14A: Any native flowering stem ** (Golden Rod)
Results: 1st: Betsy Ford | 2nd: Sarah Fleming | 3rd: Heather Robinson
Class 15: Novice. Same as above
Results: No Entries
Class 16A: Any other late blooming stem. (Dahlia)
Results: 1st: Sarah Fleming | 2nd: Avery Brighton | 3rd: Heather Robinson | HM: Elaine Eadon
Class 16B: Any other late blooming stem. (Zinnia)
Results: 1st: Heather Robinson| 2nd: Susan Sorokolit | HM: Missy Falkenberg, Laura Haaren
Class 16C: Any other late blooming stem.
Results: 1st: Avery Brighton | 2nd: Betsy Ford, Elaine Eadon| 3rd: Bonnie Torcivia | HM: Bonnie Torcivia, Mary Heins
Class 17: Novice. Same as above
Results: 1st: Janet Rochford | 3rd: Janet Rochford
PAR
Class 18: An exhibit of exceptional horticultural merit, which does not qualify for entry elsewhere in the Horticulture Division. Entries in the Par class must have been owned and grown by the exhibitor for a minimum of one year. Cut specimens are not permitted.
Results: 1st: Susan Sorokolit, Louisa Renn | 3rd: Betsy Ford
PHOTOGRAPHY
“It’s a quiet job being a root. No one hugs you or praises your intricate ways” – Steve Turner
ROOTS AND RESILIENCE
Class 1: A color photo portraying the beauty and complexity of roots of any kind. Limited to (4) Entries
Results: 1st: Barbara Batting | 2nd: Elaine Eadon | 3rd: Bonnie Torcivia | HM: Amy McCooey
Class 2: Novice. Same as above. Limited to (4) Entries
Results: 1st: Jeannie Shanley | 2nd: Laura Haaren | 3rd: Kathleen Onieal | HM: Susan Sorokolit, Heather Robinson, Betsy Ford
Class 3: A black and white photo of a resilient plant/tree growing in an unexpected or hard to grow place. Limited to (4) Entries
Results: 1st: Mary Jane O’Hare | 2nd: Sheila Ehrenberg| 3rd: Gail Van Winkle | HM: Bonnie Torcivia
Class 4: Novice. Same as above. Limited to (4) Entries
Results: 1st: Elaine Eadon | 2nd: Heather Robinson | 3rd: Teresa Maguire | HM: Barbara Kirkpatrick, Alex Smith
